FAA Proposes Wireless Ban for Airline Staff

WASHINGTON (CN) - The Federal Aviation Administration plans to prohibit pilots and flight attendants from using wireless devices on planes.

The FAA takes this action to conform to a part of its Modernization and Reform Act, enacted last year.

A section of that act makes it illegal for airplane crewmembers to use a wireless device or laptop while at their duty station when the plane is being operated.

The act clarifies that the prohibition does not apply to devices directly related to the operation of a plan, or for emergency, safety-related, or employment-related communications.

"This rule is intended to ensure that certain non-essential activities do not contribute to the challenge of task management on the flight deck and do not contribute to a loss of situational awareness due to attention to non-essential activities," the FAA wrote.

"While this proposed rule affects small entities, it merely revises existing FAA rules and does not impose any cost on any regulated entity."

The FAA requests comments until March 18.

To learn more, click the document icon for this regulation and others.

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